Russian Officials Abusing Copyright Law -- With Microsoft's Help -- To Intimidate Gov't Critics
from the well,-look-at-that dept
Almost exactly three years ago, we wrote about how the Russian gov't (after years of diplomatic pressure from the US), was suddenly cracking down on organizations for using unauthorized software -- but, that such "anti-piracy raids" only seemed to target government critics. We've suggested in the past that the US should know better than to pressure countries like Russia and China to be more proactive when it comes to copyright issues, because those efforts will backfire when such tools are used solely to further the political ambitions of those in power, not the business prospects of American companies.It looks like the Russian government's misuse of copyright law in this manner has continued, and the NY Times (who also had that original article three years ago, though they don't point back to it, like we do) is noting that Microsoft appears to be helping the Russian government suppress dissent in this manner, because even when organizations claim they legally licensed Microsoft products, Microsoft keeps its hardline "down with pirates" line and supports the Russian raids and prosecutions. Despite the fact that these sorts of stories have appeared for at least three years, and despite claims from the groups targeted that they've requested Microsoft's help in not being involved in frivolous attacks, Microsoft only seems to have taken notice of the issue once the NY Times came calling.
And, before people say that the best way to avoid these things is to either not use Microsoft software at all, or to properly license it, it should be made clear that there's evidence that Russian officials don't care:
But the review of these cases indicates that the security services often seize computers whether or not they contain illegal software. The police immediately filed reports saying they had discovered such programs, before even examining the computers in detail. The police claims have in numerous instances been successfully discredited by defendants when the cases go before judges.In other cases, organizations that were raided had compliance stickers on the computers, and had all the receipts and documentation ready to show police. However, police refused to look at the documentation and removed the stickers that showed compliance.
Given the suspicions that these investigations are politically motivated, the police and prosecutors have turned to Microsoft to lend weight to their cases. In southwestern Russia, the Interior Ministry declared in an official document that its investigation of a human rights advocate for software piracy was begun "based on an application" from a lawyer for Microsoft.
Microsoft execs should be ashamed of how their ridiculous anti-piracy stance is being abused to put down political dissent. Shameful.
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Filed Under: anti-piracy, censorship, copyright, dissent, russia
Companies: microsoft
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ARGHHH!
There's nothing I can do to read the story for myself or even link it if need be. Looks like I'm linking people to Techdirt to get the scoop.
Anyway, IIRC, Russia is usually poorer than the US (/sarcasm), so people can't afford Microsoft's prices. I know that they're a monopoly and all, but has there ever been a story about MS offering a price differentiation instead of jailtime?
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Re: ARGHHH!
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Support gnu/linux
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You could make the case that Micosoft should stand up to the Russian government, but in my mind there is a big difference between proactively helping someone do evil and not doing enough to reactively prevent evil. One hopes that if called on to prevent evil, we'd do the right thing, but there's still a large gap between the two behaviors.
I would think a good compromise would be for Microsoft to provide copies of the purchase records to the groups being targeted, maybe even in a public forum. Make it something that is automated. Go to this web page, type in your registration number and get printouts of the licensing information. Just like the Russian government doing evil by hiding behind "piracy", Microsoft can do good by hiding behind "customer service". "What? Should we not have done that? We were just trying to help our paying customers."
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Re:
'In other cases, organizations that were raided had compliance stickers on the computers, and had all the receipts and documentation ready to show police. However, police refused to look at the documentation and removed the stickers that showed compliance. '
So how is your idea going to help at all? Microsoft are the ones that egged the government on, so yes, their actions are 'shameful.'
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Microsoft Strikes Back
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/205370/microsoft_to_issue_blanket_license_to_n gos.html
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Re: Microsoft Strikes Back
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129837985
I guess it got too hot for the Redmond menace to be linked to the Putinistas.
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Re: Re:
I read the part in the linked you quoted and I have the same opinion of it on reading it in your post: that it is completely irrelevent to my point. All it points to is that these Russian police are corrupt. How does that relate to Microsoft?
Microsoft are the ones that egged the government on, so yes, their actions are 'shameful.'
Microsoft asked the Russian government to enforce its laws. The Russian government selectively enforced the laws to squelch dissent. How is this Microsoft's responsibility? Holding Microsoft accountable in this case is like saying that because you're in favor of laws against murder, that you're responsible for any corrupt cops in the homocide department.
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Microsoft and Russia
At least Apple has made it clear they can and might do the same sort of thing here. They may be evil for it, but at least they are honest.
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the article
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